Working Together to Transform Lives with Local Community Collaborations

At Bradford College we take pride in our community outreach. As part of Love Our Colleges week we wanted to show our support for our local partners and their impact on our students.

Contributing to a More Confident School Community

All Saints Primary School are offering courses for parents and the wider community. During their studies, they are learning a multitude of skills including digital and school operations. This helps build a pool of potential volunteers who will be able to support the school, as well as participating in wellbeing activities and even coffee mornings.

One of the key advantages of offering these sessions within the school is that parents can attend classes immediately after dropping off their children. The familiar, supportive environment helps many feel more comfortable, making the experience less intimidating or overwhelming. They’re also surrounded by staff they already know and trust, which adds an extra layer of reassurance.

We spoke to Vania, a Level 1 Preparing to Work in Schools student who is attending the course to reskill. She says, “As a recently single parent, my current job hours are not aligned with the school day. It is so much easier coming here than going to college because one of my kids goes to this school so when I drop him off, I can just come to class as I am already here.” She also goes on to explain that the course setting is very relaxed and with other parents, so they understand her situation. She urges everyone to go and learn new skills.

Students Stitch Together Skills and Community

We also went to Community Works to visit our adult students who were taking part in their weekly Dressmaking class at the community centre. We were warmly welcomed by their Community Lecturer Suraya Begum and left feeling well informed about how to measure and cut a pair of trousers.

The group is comprised of a range of people, many of which struggled with their English but were committed to learning. Suraya their tutor told us, “They enjoy coming to the classes near their homes as a way to make new friends, integrate into their communities, learn new skills, and do something for their own wellbeing.”

We interviewed two of the students in attendance at Suraya’s course. Svetlana is one of our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students but also attends the dressmaking class at the community centre. She described the benefits of the course as “local to where I live, so it is easier to get to than the college and the teachers are very good.”

Haroon, the only male student on the course, is interested in becoming a tailor. He is doing the course to learn the basic sewing skills and gain confidence in the trade so that he can enrol on the fashion course at Bradford College. He explained the benefits of the course as, “Learning with like-minded people; it is organised and it’s affordable but you still gain accreditation.”

Are you interested in joining a course within the local community?
Check out: Adult Courses – Level Up Your Career – Bradford College